The United Nations is willing to put its expertise to work in the upcoming municipal elections, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said on Friday.

At his meeting with President Beji Caid Essebsi at Carthage Palace, Feltman reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to stand with Tunisia to build its democracy and iron out its difficulties.

While welcoming the steps taken by Tunisia in the field of democratic construction, the UN official paid tribute to the President of the Republic for his continuous efforts to uphold human rights and enhance the position of women in society.

Feltman, who was accompanied by Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ghassen Salame, also praised Tunisia’s support to the UN mission in Libya in order to provide it with best conditions to fully fulfil its mission.

“Thanks to this assistance from Tunisia, which spares no effort to restore peace and stability in Libya, the United Nations Mission has managed to take positive steps in the implementation of its plan to reach a political settlement to the the crisis that is shaking Libya and combine necessary conditions for the organisation of the presidential and legislative elections,” he said.

For his part, CaA�d Essebsi reaffirmed Tunisia’s unwavering commitment to support the Libyan people and restore peace and stability in that country.

“Tunisia is constantly encouraging the various Libyan actors to engage in dialogue to reach a political settlement to the crisis and lay the foundations of the state and institutions of Libya,” he stressed.

The Head of State reiterated Tunisia’s commitment to further support the efforts of the United Nations and to co-operate more closely with the UN mission to boost the process of political settlement.

Moreover, CaA�d Essebsi underscored Tunisia’s commitment to the democratic process and its concern to move forward in enshrining human rights and freedoms in law and in practice.